NeverDull

If you struggle with dry skin, winter is probably the worst time for you and your skin.  I know winter is almost over…but dry skin can be so uncomfortable that I wanted to share a couple of items of information about this that may help people who have dry skin.

The bottom line is that your dry skin may be being made worse by the products you are using on it!

Your skin is your largest organ. If you are regularly using skin products that contain mineral oil or petroleum, you may be exposing your skin to chemicals that may make dry skin even worse. The bad news?  About 98% of the cosmetic companies use some kind of petroleum ingredient in their products.

Look for: Mineral oil, petrolatum, and propylene glycol on the ingredient list of your favorite skin care product. At least one of these is likely to be there.

Science is now showing that these products may cause more harm than good. Mineral oil has been listed as the second leading cause of accelerated skin aging - second only to the sun!!!

Here’s something else to think about. Your skin needs to be clean in order for it to function properly. One of the most important things your skin does is allow toxins to be expelled through your pores. Another important function of the skin is to absorb nutrients through your pores. If your pores are clogged with petroleum-based products, they cannot effectively remove toxins or absorb nutrients.

The skin absorbs up to 60% of the chemicals it is exposed to. Scientists have estimated that it takes about 26 seconds for a substance to go from your skin to every major organ of your body! Think about this!!

OK - have I convinced you yet?  Good! Now…on to the alternatives!

Look for products that use natural oils. Sunflower, coconut, avocado, shea, cocoa, and jojoba butter are all alternative ingredients to look for. There are also companies that use botanically-based products. Sometimes you can even find individuals who make natural products and sell them.

Coconut oil, especially, is a great ingredient in skin care products. It is also a beneficial dietary ingredient as well. Coconut oil actually has antiviral properties that make it adept at fighting viral pathogens. This means that if your skin has a product on it that contains coconut oil, your skin may actually be more able to fight off bacteria that can cause skin problems (think acne…).

Start reading labels! If you can’t pronounce the ingredients in your skin care products, you really shouldn’t be subjecting your skin and your body to these products. Use the internet to hunt for natural soaps, plant-based moisturizers, and natural cosmetics. This will be so worth the effort!

Two sites I like:

Saffron Rouge

Burt’s Bees

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